The Verge published an indepth expose on eccentric energy and computing entrepreneur Mike Cheiky and how he’s been able to convince Valley venture capitalists to invest in his companies, despite some early questionable scientific claims. Cool Planet announced last month that it raised another $100 million (from folks like Google Ventures, BP, UBS, Goldman Sachs and others), and to which my response on Twitter was “I thought this was an April Fools joke, but looks like not.” The companies that Cheiky has founded have distanced themselves from him, and some have changed directions and business models. But the energy industry is particularly susceptible to what I once called “snake oil energy salesmen and green bamboozlers.”

]]>http://gigaom.com/2014/04/14/an-expose-on-the-founder-of-cool-planet-transonic-zpower/feed/2Apple Unveils Efficient MacBook Battery, Who's the Supplier?http://gigaom.com/2009/01/06/apple-unveils-efficient-macbook-battery-whos-the-supplier/
http://gigaom.com/2009/01/06/apple-unveils-efficient-macbook-battery-whos-the-supplier/#commentsTue, 06 Jan 2009 19:36:48 +0000http://earth2tech.com/?p=19286Unveiled this morning at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco, the new 17-inch MacBook Pro is part of what Apple (s APPL) is calling “the world’s greenest family of notebooks.” Is it just a ploy to keep Greenpeace’s Green My Apple groupies off its back? Not completely. This actually looks like a significant step toward more efficient computing with fewer hazardous chemicals.

Less than an inch thick, the new 17-incher has a built-in battery — making the energy-storage design more like the MacBook Air, iPods and iPhone than that of the smaller MacBook Pros. Apple announced today that the new lithium-polymer battery will run for up to eight hours on a single charge. The company says it will retain at least 80 percent of that capacity for up to 1,000 recharge cycles, compared with only 300 recharges for the 13- and 15-inch models’ removable lithium-ion batteries. That longer life comes in part from an adaptive charging mechanism — an embedded chip that monitors charge level, temperature, and helps manage the charging current. Like the other MacBooks, the new Pro has a recyclable aluminum body and contains no brominated flame retardants.

So, who will supply this super battery? There was a rumor that silver-zinc battery startup ZPower had nabbed the deal. But, unfortunately for ZPower, Apple has decided to go with lithium-polymer batteries; ZPower confirmed with us today that it is not working on this type of battery.

If it is a startup, the deal is a major win for a small firm. Boston Power makes a next-gen lithium-ion battery and signed a deal with HP last month. Like the battery promised for the new MacBook Pro, Boston Power’s “Sonata” batteries are said to operate at 80 percent capacity for at least three years. But Boston’s battery runs closer to four hours per charge, so the design would have to be tweaked considerably. Startup Actacell is working on next-generation lithium-ion technology, and it’s backed by several venture firms and Google.org. But, so far, Actacell has focused on high-power batteries for electric vehicles. Startup Mobius Power is also working on lithium-ion batteries that it says can be used for notebooks.

Apple’s wording about its battery technology largely credits Apple engineers with improving the battery technology, so it’s possible that Apple did a lot of the work in-house. Or perhaps the company is just blanketing the Apple brand over another company’s innovation.

]]>http://gigaom.com/2009/01/06/apple-unveils-efficient-macbook-battery-whos-the-supplier/feed/8Daily Sprouthttp://gigaom.com/2008/12/03/daily-sprout-9/
Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:30:45 +0000http://earth2tech.com/?p=16743Carbon Market Now Worth $48B: The world market in greenhouse gases grew to $48.26 billion in the first half of 2008, an increase of 41 percent over the same period last year, according to an International Emissions Trading Association estimate presented at this week’s UN climate conference in Poznan, Poland. — AFP

ZPower Silver-Zinc Batteries to Appear in Laptops Next Year: Rechargeable battery developer ZPower says a leading laptop manufacturer plans to launch the first computer designed to accept silver-zinc batteries in mid-2009. — NYT’s Green Inc.

Truck Sales Most Resilient for GM, Ford: Ford has been heavily advertising its trucks while touting plans for a more fuel-efficient fleet to Congress. What gives? Trucks still sell. — WSJ’s Environmental Capital

Seven Injured in Suntech Accident: Solar-cell maker Suntech Power Holdings (s STP) announced yesterday that seven employees were injured at its Wuxi, China plant last Friday after a piece of equipment used for laminating modules malfunctioned. — Press Release

ACAL Energy Raises $4.9M: Fuel cell company ACAL Energy has closed a $4.9 million fundraising round led by by CT Investment Partners. The funds will help the company continue its development of fuel cell systems with low-cost liquid catalysts. — Green Car Congress